Ross children could be attending a new school in 2014 if a group of local parents opens a Free School in the Ross, Monmouth and Forest of Dean. They are taking advantage of the government's Free School initiative because they want to increase choice for parents and plan to open a Montessori school for children aged four to 16. Free Schools are state–funded, but set up and launched by interested parents and teachers, and if the school gets the go-ahead from the Department for Education, it will open in September 2014.

The parents, who have formed a steering group, have organised a meeting on December 11th at the Larruperz Centre from 7.30pm – 9.30pm to give more information about how the school will be run. Anyone interested in finding out more is welcome to attend.

Called the Wye Valley Montessori, the school will be small. Small schools are particularly scarce at secondary level in the Ross and surrounding areas, so the parents are hoping that this new setting will improve the choice for all children, including teenagers.

Rosemary Whaley, Principal at the successful Monmouth Montessori School has been brought on board as the Education Advisor. Children will be taught by teachers with experience and expertise in the small school ethos and their subject. Children will learn 'at their own pace', undertaking activities when they are ready.

Ms Whaley said: "We will do everything we can to fire up a child's excitement in learning. That means enabling the child to engage with their learning, and encouraging early skills in problem-solving. It also means drafting in experts and professionals in any field, with real enthusiasm for their subjects. If a child expresses an interest in learning a specific skill or a new language we will do our utmost to find a way to facilitate it for them."

For the rest of this story please see this week's Ross Gazette.